Yūgen

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formulation by Zeami

…or the representational aspect, and yūgen, the symbolic aspect and spiritual core of the Noh, which took precedence and which became the touchstone of excellence in the Noh. Zeami wrote, “The essence of yūgen is true beauty and gentleness,” but not mere outward beauty: it had to suggest behind the…

…is to be found in yūgen (“mystery and depth”) and that the artist must follow the rule of sōō (“consonance”), according to which every object, gesture, and expression has to be appropriate to its context.

…have been the meaning of yūgen (“mystery and depth”), the ideal of the Noh plays. Parallel developments occurred in the tea ceremony, the landscape garden, and monochrome painting, all arts that suggest or symbolize rather than state.